Heating system humidifier



Nov. 4, 1958 R. P. SKERRITT HEATING SYSTEM HUMIDIFIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 7. 1955 IN VEN T0 foy@ fS/eeTr/ly/ RQP. sKERRlTT HEATINGSYSTEM HUMIDIFV'IER Nov. 4, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. '7. 1955INVENToR. Z? 'evr/ United States Patent HEATING SYSTEM HUMIDIFIER Roy P.skerrm,v Detroit, Mich.

Application January 7, 1955, Serial No. 480,538

4 Claims. (Cl, 126-113) This invention relates to humidifiers and, inparticular, to heating system humidifiers.

One object of this invention is to provide a heating system humidifierwhich is adapted to be quickly and easily installed in the side of aheating duct or furnace casing, means being provided for causing theheated air to be deflected over the liquid in the humidifier and theresubjected to 4humidification before being returned to the heating ductor furnace casing, as the case may be.

Another object is to provide a heating system humidier of the foregoingcharacter which is especially well adapted for use in furnaces ofso-called counterfiow heating systems and wherein the moving heated airis deflected into the humidifier by a scoop placed in the path of themoving air, the humidifier preferably containing evaporator plates whichassist in evaporating the water in the humidilier pan.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description of the'accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical section, partly in side elevation, of a heatingsystem humidifier, according to one form of the invention, taken alongthe line 1-1 in Figure 2, and showing the humidifier attached to theside of a counterflow heating furnace;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section, partly in top plan view, taken alongthe line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 3--3 in Figurel;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation, partly in centralvertical section, of the water flow control valve and adjacent portionof the float-operated mechanism shown in the lower left-hand corner ofFigure l;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the free end of the fioat armshown in vertical section at the bottom of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket of the humidifiershown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the outercasing side wall of the furnace of Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, wherein asupporting arm is formed integral with and struck outward from the outercasing side wall of the furnace; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the air defiector or scoop shown inthe upper portion of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures l to 3 inclusive show aside portion of the furnace, generally designated 10, for a so-calledcounterow heating system equipped with a humidifier, generallydesignated 12, according to one form of the invention. The furnace 10has outer and inner casing side walls 16 and 18 respectively spacedapart from one another to form a vertical hot air passageway 19, theouter casing sidewall 16 being provided with a horizontally-elongatedrectangular aperture 20 for the installation of the humidifier 10(Figure 7). Struck outward from the aperture 20 along one of thevertical edges 22 thereof is a support or third bracket arm 24 having anotch 26 adjacent its junction with the edge 22 and an arcuately curvedupper edge 28 which extends downwardly and then rearwardly to a verticalportion 30 parallel to the aperture edge 22. The third bracket 24 isprovided with vertically-spaced holes 32 and 34, one above the other.

The furnace casing side wall 16 is provided with sheet metal screw holes36 for the reception of sheet metal screws 38 (Figures l to 3 inclusive)whereby a mounting bracket, generally designated 40 (Figure 6), issecured thereto. For this purpose, the mounting bracket 40 is providedwith an open-centered rectangular border 42 having screw holes 44therein aligned with the screw holes 36. The mounting bracket '40 has anaperture 46 in the center thereof with vertical edge 48 from which firstand second bracket arms 50 and 52 have been struck outward in a mannersimilar to that of the third bracket arm 24 of Figure 7. The bracketarms 50 and 52 are similar in size and outline to the bracket arm 24,and all three bracket arms 50, 52 and 24 are parallel to one another aswell as perpendicular to the sheet metal from which they are struckoutward. The first and second bracket arms 50 and 52, like the thirdbracket arm 24, also have notches 54 adjacent their junction with theborder 42 and aligned With the notch 26 in the mounted position thereof.The bracket arms 50 and 52 also have downwardly-curved -arcuate edges 56terminating in vertical edges 58 similar to the edges 28 and 30 of thethird bracket arm 24. The first and second bracket arms 50 and 52 alsohave holes 60 and 62 which are aligned with one another and are ofdifferent sizes.

Mounted in the mounting bracket 40 is an elongated rectangularhumidifier pan, generally designated 64, one end of which is drilled at66 to receive a bolt 68 Which passes through the hole 62 to secure thepan 64 to the second bracket arm 52 (Figure l). The opposite end of thepan 64 is provided with a larger hole 70 which serves to receive thestern 72 of the valve member 74 forming part of a fioat-operated watercontrol valve assembly, generally designated 75 having a water controlvalve, generally designated 76 (Figures l and 4). Thel lstern 72 of thevalve member 74 passes through the hole 70 in the humidifier pan 64 andthe hole 60 in the` first bracket arm 50 of the mounting bracket 40 andis secured thereto by a nut 78 on the threaded portion 77 of the stem72. Washers 80 are mounted on opposite sides of the bracket arm 60.. Thewater pipe (not shown) is coupled to the threaded stem portion 77 tosupply water thereto.

The valve member 74 has an enlarged head 82 which serves to hold inposition Ia spray hood, generally designated 84, and a float mechanismsupporting bracket 86, the rear walls 88 and 90 of which are drilled forthe passage of the stem 72 (Figure 4). The hood 76 has parallel sidewalls 92 and a top wall 94 for confining the water spray issuing fromthe port 96 of the valve member 74 to a downward direction toward thepan 64` and to prevent it from falling on other parts of the humidifier,where it might otherwise cause corrosion or lime deposit.

The float mechanism supporting bracket 86 has parallel side arms 98(Figure 4) perpendicular to the rear wall by which it is supported anddrilled with aligned holes 100 to receive an upper pivot pin 102, hereshown as a cotter pin.

Pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 102 is a float arm base, generallydesignated 104, having a top wall 106, The side a front wall' 108 andparallel side walls 110. walls are drilled with aligned holes 112toreceive the pivot pin 102. The front wall 108 is provided with a hole114 for receiving the neck 116 of a combined nozzle 74 extends and whichcloses the valve port 96 in the valve stern 72. The valve plunger 118 ispreferably of synthetic rubber or other resilient material, andthe'cup-shaped valve seat 122 serves to deflect the watersprray issuing fromthe valve port 96 into the interior ofthespray hood 84, whence itisdeflected downward by 'the latter into the pan 64.

The top wall 106 is provided with an upstruck portion 124 which isdrilled and internally threaded as at 126 to receive a headless screw128. The latter is provided at its lower end with an annular groove 138forining a neck of smaller diameter between the screw 128 and anenlargement 132 on the lower end thereof. The parallel side walls neartheir lower ends are drilled with aligned yholes 134 to receive a lowerpivot pin 136 which, like the upper pivot pin 102, is shown as a cotterpin. The holes 134 and pivot pin 136 are located horizontally a-shortdistance away-from the axis of the screw 128 so as to create a slightleverage factor between the pin 136 and the neck 130 of the screw 128(Figure 4).

Preferably the upper and lower pivot pins 182 and 136 are parallel toone another, the latter being located between the pivot pin 102 and theaxis of the screw 128.

Removably secured to the oat arm base 104 by being connected to thescrew neck and lower pivot pin 136 respectively is a iioat arm 138 of afloat and arm unit, generally designated 140, including a oat 142. Thefloat arm 138 is of channel cross-section with side anges 144interconnected by a web 146 having a horizontal slot 148 extendinginward from the arm end 150 thereof to a slot end 152 (Figure 5). Thehorizontal slot 148 is of a width suicient to slidably receive the neck130 of the screw 128 but insuicient to pass the screw 128 or its head132. The webs 144 are provided with vertical slots or notches 154aligned with one another and disposed immediately above the lower pivotpin 136 when the neck 130 is located adjacent the end 152 of thehorizontal slot 148 (Figure 4). The neck 130 is slightly wider than thethickness of the web 146 of the float arm 138 so as to permit a slightamount of play and facilitate removal of the float and arrn unit byunhooking the notches 154 from the lower pivot pin 136 and sliding itoff the neck 130 of the screw 128, as explained below in connection withthe operation of the invention. The lioat arm 138 is-of suiiicient widthto fit loosely between the side walls 110 of the oat arm base 104.

The opposite end of the oat arm 146 from the slotted end is seated inthe float 142 which, for example,

may consist of a rectangular block of foam glass, namely,

glass which has been aerated while molten so as to be composed almostentirely of tiny glass bubbles filled with air or other gas so as toproduce a light and very buoyant material. The channel-shaped float arm138 is shown for purposes of simplicity as seated directly in the foamglass float 142 (Figures 1 and 2) and secured therein by a fastener 156extending downwardly through the float 142 and float arm 138 to lock theassemblyv thereof together.

In order to enhance evaporation of the water W from the humidifier pan64, lthe latter is provided with an inverted L-shaped evaporatorplate-supporting bracket 158 having a vertical arm 160 which is mountedbetween the end wall 66 of the humidifier pan 64 and the second mountingbracket 52 and drilled to receive the same bolt 68 which secures themembers 66 and 52 to one another (Figure 1). The horizontal arm 162 iscorrugated or undulated to provide horizontally-spaced notches 164 andterminates in an upturned end or hook portion 166. Mounted on andsuspended from the horizontal arm 162 yof the evaporator platesupporting bracket 158 are multiple approximately L-shaped evaporatorplates 168 (Figure 3) having holes 170 therein located above theircenters of gravity in such a manner as to receive the horizontal arm 162andhang freely therein while resting in the notches 164 and therebyspaced apart from one another in vertical parallel spaced relationship.The evaporator plates 168 are of compressed glass ber or other suitablematerial providing upward flow of water by capillarity. The lower endsof the vertical portions 172 of the plates 168 depend a sufficientlygreat distance below the horizontal arm 162 of the bracket 158 to beimmersed in the water Win the evaporator pan 164. The upper ends of thevertical portions 172 of the plates 168 have offset horizontal portions174 projecting into the hot air passageway 19 between the outer andinner casing side walls 16 and 18 (Figures 2 and 3).

In order to deflect the air passing through the passageway 19 and directit inwardly toward the curved wall 282 of the housing 200 and downwardlybetween the evaporator plates 168, the humidifier 12 is provided with ascoop or air deflector, generally designated 176 (Figures 1, 3 and 8),consisting of parallel plate-like side arms 178 interconnected by atrough-shaped portion 180 which is partly of arcuate cross-section as at182 and partly at as at 184. The outer ends of the side arms 178 aredrilled as at 186 to receive fasteners 188 by which the side arms 178are secured to the second and third bracket arms 52 and 24 (Figure l).As shown in Figure 3 in dotted lines, the air deflector or scoop 176 maybe placed in an inverted position if the air is moving upward in thepassageway 19, rather than in the upwardly facing position shown insolid lines therein, for air traveling downwardly through the passageway19, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3.

In order to separate the portion or chamber of the evaporator 12containing the evaporator plates 168 and the aperture 28 from theportion or chamber 192 containing the float and control valve assembly75 (Figures l and 2), and protect the latter from the heat traversingthe former, a shield plate or partition plate 194 is provided forming,in effect, a continuation of the third bracket arm 24 and securedthereto by the fasteners 196. The shield plate 194 extends downwardbelow the level of the water W in the pan 64. In order to permit readyaccess to the evaporator plate chamber 190 land iioat and control valvechamber 192, the evaporator 12 is provided with a cover, generallydesignated 280 (Figures 2 and 3) having an upper portion 282 of arcuatecross-section conforming to the curvature of the edge portion 56 of themounting bracket arms 58 and 52 and of a length sufficient to extendtherebetween, and terminating at its lower edge in a vertical portion orskirt 204 which overhangs and extends downward past the upper edge ofthe evaporator pan 64 (Figure 3), and tits against the vertical loweredge portion 58 of the mounting bracket arms 50 and 52 (Figure 6). Theupper edge of the cover 200 is provided with a straight vertical ange286 which tits into the notches 26 and 54 of the bracket arms 24, 58 and52, thereby retaining the cover 200 in position yet permitting itsinstant removal by lifting it upward. The cover 200 along its lateraledges is provided with curved flanges 208 (Figure 2) which follow theedge curvature of the bracket portions 56 and 58 (Figure 6) so as toprevent `escape of air from the humidifier 12. The cover 200 is shapedto provide an outwardly convex curved wall extending about the axis ofsaid pan.

In the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that the humidifier12 has been mounted on the casing side walls 16 'of the furnace 10 bymeans of its mounting bracket 48, and that the evaporator plates 168have been placed in position with their upper horizontal portions 174projecting intothe air passageway 19 between the outer and inner casingside walls 16 and 18 of the furnace 18 (Figures 2 and 3). Let it also beassumed that a water pipe has been coupled to the threaded portion 77 ofthe valve stem 72 of the control valve 76 so as to provide a constantsupply of water thereto. Let it finally be assumed that the scoop 176 orair deector has been placed in its p'roper position, depending upon thedirection of flow of the air in the air pasageway 19, so as to deflectair into the spaces between the evaporator plates 168 in order that itmay take up moisture from the plates 168 as they draw the water upwardby the force of capillary attraction from the water W in the humidifierpan 64.

With the cover 200 in place (Figure 3) to close in the chambers 190 and192 of the humidifier 12, air passing downward along the passageway 19encounters the scoop or deector 176 and passes into the space betweenthe evaporator plates 16S (Figure 3), and is deflected by the outwardlyconvex curved wall thence downwardly between them and outward adjacentthe lower edge of said opening into the air passageway 19 again aftertaking up moisture from the evaporator plates 168. As the water W in thepan 64 is evaporated in this manner, its level falls, causing the float142 to move downwardly around the lower pivot pin 136, pulling the screw128 and float arm base 104 downwardly by reason of the connectiontherebetween at the neck portion 130 of the screw 128 and at the lowerpivot pin 136.

The downward motion of the oat arm base 104 around the upper pivot pin102 causes the valve plunger 118 and its cup-shaped valve seat 122 toswing away from the nozzle or valve member 74, thereby uncovering theport 76 in the valve stern 72. The water spurting from the port 96 as aresult of this action is deflected to the left (Figure 4) by thecup-shaped valve seat 122 against the valve stemy head 82 and spray hood84, `which in turn deflect it downwardly into the pan 64. As the waterlevel rises in the pan 64 by the replenishment of water from the valve76, the float 142 and lioat arm 138 consequently rise, swinging thefloat arm base 104 upwardly so that the valve plunger 118 is moved tothe left into yielding closing engagement with the water discharge port96, cutting 011 the ow of water until replenishment is again required inthe evaporator pan 64, whereupon the foregoing action is repeated.

The Water level in the pan 64 is readily adjusted to the locationdesired -by rotating the screw 128 in the .threaded bore 126 of thefloat arm base 104, thereby changing the positions of the float arm 138and oat 142 relatively to the float arm base 104, and consequentlychanging the water level at which the float and float arm assembly 142will close the water discharge port 96 by means of the valve plunger118.

As explained above, the float and lioat arm assembly 142 is readilydetached from the oat arm base 104 by unhooking its notched portions 154of the oat arm 138 and sliding the latter off the neck 130 of the screw128 by means of the open-ended slot 148 therein.

What I claim is:

1. A heating system humidifier comprising a mounting structure having anapproximately Vertical mounting portion with an aperture having upperand lower edges, an elongated humidifier pan secured to one side of saidmounting structure and extending horizontally along the lower portionthereof below s aid aperture with its longitudinal axis disposedapproximately parallel to said mounting portion, means for maintaining abody of water in said pan at a predetermined depth therein, a pluralityof evaporator plates, an evaporator support disposed adjacent said pan,said plurality of evaporator plates being mounted approximatelyvertically on said support in spaced approximately parallel relationshipand disposed approximately perpendicular to said mounting portion withtheir lower end portions extending downwardly into said pan beneath theintended water level thereof and with their upper portions disposedadjacent the aperture in said mounting portion, a housing supported onsaid mounting structure extending above said pan and having an outwardlyconvex curved wall extending about the axis of said pan from the outerside of said pan to said mounting portion above said opening, anddeecting means arranged to deflect air into the housing adjacent one ofsaid edges and toward said curved wall, said curved wall directing theair out of said housing adjacent the other of said edges of saidaperture, whereby air is directed into moisture receiving relation withsaid plates.

2. A heating system humidifier, according to claim l wherein the upperportions of the humidifier plates extend into said housing and areprovided with extensions projecting through the aperture beyond themounting portion on the opposite side thereof from said pan.

3. A heating system humidifier, according to claim 1 wherein the airdeecting means comprises an air scoop disposed adjacent said plates andconnected to said mounting structure, said air scoop projecting throughsaid aperture beyond said mounting portion on the opposite side thereoffrom said pan and having a curved wall the innermost portion of whichextends vertically and the outermost portion of which extendshorizontally to deflect air into said housing.

4. A heating system humidifier, according to claim 2 wherein saiddeflecting means includes an air scoop disposed .adjacent said platesand connected to said mounting structure, said air scoop projectingthrough said aperture beyond said mounting portion on the opposite sidethereof from said pan and having a curved wall the innermost portion ofwhich extends vertically and the outermost portion of which -extendshorizontally to deflect air into said houslng.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,116,861 Wilson Nov. 10, 1914 1,231,399 McPortland June 26, 19171,235,389 Skuttle July 31, 1917 1,692,816 Chamberlin Nov. 27, 19282,155,070 Woolley Apr. 18, 1939 2,158,543 Jensen May 16, 1939 2,172,399Mueller Sept. 12, 1939 2,187,778 Gardner et al. Jan. 13, 1940 2,565,210Alovolis Aug. 21, 1951 2,766,027 Herr Oct. 9, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS141,528 Germany May 11, 1903

